Question

Case Study:
During an investigation of a bridge collapse, Engineer A investigates another similar bridge, and finds it to be only marginally safe. He contacts the governmental agency responsible for the bridge and informs them of his concern for the safety of the structure. He is told that the agency is aware of this situation and has planned to provide in next year’s budget for its repair. Until then, the bridge must remain open to traffic. Without this bridge, emergency vehicles such as police and fire apparatus would have to use an alternate route that would increase their response time by approximately twenty minutes. Engineer A is thanked for his concern and asked to say nothing about the condition of the bridge. The agency is confident that the bridge will be safe.

A. What is the Main Problem in the Case Study?
B. What ethical code/s was violated in the case study? (You may refer to IEEE, NSPE and ABET ethical codes)
C. What would be the societal impact of the case study?
D. List down at least 2 possible solutions you think can resolve the ethical dilemma.
E. Among the possible solutions, what is the best course of action that Engineer A must do? Explain why?

Case Study

Answer 1

Ans.(A)- The main problem in the case study is that the work of all government agencies are like this only which leads to a threat in lives of people. They are always late in taking any decision in any field. And the agency is aware of this situation and has planned to provide in next year’s budget for its repair until then, the bridge should not remain open to traffic.

Ans.(B)- The ethical code that was violated in the case study is to hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public, to strive to comply with ethical design and sustainable development practices, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment.

Ans.(C)- The societal impact of the case study would be that if the bridge which is only marginally safe, remain open to traffic then this leads to an accident at any time. And it is very dangerous for the lives of many people.   

Ans.(D)- I think 2 possible solutions that can resolve the ethical dilemma are-

i) The agency is aware of this situation and has planned to provide in next year’s budget for the repair of that bridge until then, the bridge should not remain open to traffic.

ii) Some emergency vehicles such as police and fire apparatus should be kept near the end of that bridge for one year until the next year's budget has planned which reduce the response time of emergency vehicles by not taking use of that alternate route.

Ans.(E)- Engineer A should try to convince the government agency by telling them that the bridge must not remain open to traffic until the next year's budget has planned and some emergency vehicles such as police and fire apparatus should be kept near the end of that bridge for the next one year which reduce the response time of emergency vehicles by not taking use of that alternate route as well as till then there is no threat to anyone's life.

This is the best course of action that Engineer A must do because if he directly tell to anyone that the bridge is only marginally safe then no one believe him and as the government agency told him to say nothing about the condition of the bridge, in this case if he files a petition against the government agency then this is also not good.